Image processing for the analysis and conservation of paintings: opportunities and challenges

Over the past few decades, analytical methods developed in the physical sciences started to contribute to the analysis, conservation, and dissemination of works of art. By focusing on the visual arts, this paper sketches the main applications that could benefit from the introduction of ad hoc image processing tools, outlines the state-of-the-art, describes the main peculiarities of this field, and discusses the main obstacles impeding a more fruitful cooperation between the image processing community and art historians, restorers, and artists in general.